An Orkney Distillery 2009 The Single Malts of Scotland 12 yo c. 7

 

 

 

56,3°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islands

Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm 

In recent years, Elixir Distillers has made a speciality of Highland Park aged in Sherry casks. Of course, officially we're not supposed to know that this is the most prestigious distillery to come out of the Orkney Islands, but it's no secret to anyone. Of the 7 bottlings from this distillery released by the famous company in 2022, 4 are aged in Sherry casks, and one is mixed, half Sherry, half Bourbon. The one we're talking about is one of these. Aged for 12 years and 5 months in a Sherry Hogshead, it gave birth to 327 bottles.

Let's Taste It : 

Right away, we know it's going to be big Sherry. And we're not disappointed, shoe polish, red fruit purée, blackcurrants, raspberries, blueberries, wood varnish, tomato soup, golden walnuts, barbecue sauce, curry. But there's also a balanced woodiness and notes of heather typical of the distillery. Indian spices, a touch of rancio but no sulphur. The palate is more balanced, with on one side caramelised walnut wood, chestnut cream and dried figs, and on the other mirabelle plums and prunes, bushes, conifers and hot chestnuts. Very discreet spices, grated nutmeg, cloves, saffron. Long, bewitching finish, ginger, roots, muscat grape pomace, fragrant bark, dark and damp earth, blackberry jam. Dark chocolate chips. Smoked wood leaves.

 

In Short, 

I'm not very enthusiastic about this one. I like Sherry a lot, but either it's a Sherry Bomb, which takes us into a magnificent fruity universe, or the Sherry is there to match and enhance the qualities of the distillate. Here, it's not one of these two cases. The Sherry is still too shy to be a real Bomb, and it's too strong to enhance the distillate. This in-between leaves me hungry for more. But that's just a matter of taste, others may love it. The fact remains that, 18 months after its release, it is no longer easy to find, and at an inordinate price.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Metamodern - Devil in the Dress